Support for vacuum cleaner accessories



March 4, 1958 C. E. MEYERHOEFER 7 SUPPORT FOR VACUUM CLEANER ACCESSORIES I Filed May 14, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR far/ [I flay/M04211 13w a x ATTORNEYS March 4, 1958 c. E. MEYERHOEFER 2,825,087

SUPPORT F OR VACUUM CLEANER ACCESSORIES Filed May 14, 1954 I I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR Car/ Efieyerfioe/zr I 2 441:; W ATTORNEYS M March 4, 1958 c. E. MEYERHOEFER 2,825,037

SUPPORT FOR VACUUM CLEANER ACCESSORIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

Filed May 14, 1954 INVENTOR zyerkve/zr ATTORNEYS United States Patent SUPPORT FOR VACUUM CLEANER ACCESSORIES Carl E. Meyerhoefer, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Lewyt gorrltgoration, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New Application May 14, 1954, Serial No. 429,813

Claims. (Cl. 15-323) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved accessory support for use in connection with a vacuum cleaner assembly of the type disclosed in my United States Letters Patent, No. 2,716,465, issued on August 30, 1955.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a unit of this character by means-of which the several brushes, tools and accessories which are used in cleaning operations may be efiiciently mounted and displayed so as to be instantly available to the operator.

A further object is that of designing a support which is capable of being readily included as part of or removed from the cleaner assembly. When so mounted, it will remain in applied position against all probability of accidental detachment from the cleaner casing.

Still another object is that of providing an improved cord-reel mechanism in association with a vacuum cleaner and preferably as a part of a supporting structure; such cord supplying electric current to the motor-blower unit of the assembly.

Still another object is that of providing structures as aforeindicated which will include relatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged in design and capable of manufacture by quantity production methods. These parts may be readily assembled by relatively unskilled labor and so assembled, will function with entire satisfaction for long periods of time.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the support;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view taken along the line 22 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 1 showing the unit applied to and fragments of a cleaner assembly;

Fig. 3 is a face view of that support;

Fig. 4 is an edge view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the supporting assembly prior to mounting;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing an alternative structure;

Fig. 7 is a face view of the unit as illustrated in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view in enlarged scale showing a desirable form of terminal structure which may extend from the casing of the assembly.

Attention is primarily directed to Figs. 2, 3 and 6 in which parts of the vacuum cleaner assembly as disclosed in my aforementioned prior patent are shown. In those views, the numeral 10 indicates the cover of the assembly mounted upon the upper casing portion 11 thereof. That casing portion is conveniently provided with an intake opening and hose coupling portion 12 through which dust-laden air enters the assembly. The connection between the cover and the upper casing portion preferably occurs by means of a hinge 13, which includes a downwardly extending plate 13' having at least a part of its inner surface spaced from the adjacent casing face. A

7 2,825,087 Patented Mar. 4, 1958 trough member 14 conveniently receives a filter bag (not shown). The filtered air is discharged through a number of louvres 15 provided in the bottom portion of the casing structure. As in Fig. 2, a current-supplying cord 16 may connect with the motor-blower unit 17 and its controlling switch.

The support can be formed of diverse materials. These may include metal and plastic. A limited flexibility may be incorporated in this element or it may be quite rigid. It is generally illustrated to good advantage in Fig. 5 ,of the attached drawings. According to the present teachings, it includes upper side portions 18, the inner faces of which are contoured to correspond to the adjacent surface of casing 11. Wing or shelf portions 19 extend outwardly adjacent parts 18. At the base of the latter, the body of the support may be formed with transversely extending grooves or notches 20. 1

The central' portion 21 of this member is preferably designed to include an outwardly inclined abutment 22 having prongs 23. The lower part of the central body portion 21 supports an outwardly extending pedestal 24. Side members 27 are disposed one adjacent each of the vertical edges of portion 21. The inner faces of these members are again contoured to at least generally conform to the exterior casing plate which they are toengage. They terminate adjacent their lower ends in the form of extended portions 28 which project rearwardly. In their forward faces, one side member may terminate in a pocket element 25 sloped upwardly and outwardly. The second side member 27 may at this point mount a pedestal portion 26. In common with pedestal portion 24, it is preferably in the form of a truncated cone and extends upwardly and outwardly.

Now with a view to providing connecting means whereby the support may be mounted by the casing, it will be noted that a tab 29 extends from the upper edge of central body portion 21. The width of this tab is preferably substantially equal to the width of the plate 13 which forms a part of the hinge assembly 13. Its thickness should be such that it may be accommodated in the cavity between and generally below that plate of the hinge assembly and the adjacent casing face. Hookshaped springs 30 have their inner ends spaced from and connected to the inner face of the caddy preferably in line with the side members 27 adjacent the lower ends of the latter. The free ends of the springs terminate in angularly offset portions 31. One of the exhaust louvres 15 of the cleaner assembly has been shown in Fig. 2 with an inwardly extending ledge portion 33 at its base. All of the louvres may be thus constructed. In any event, as will be apparent from that view, with tab 29 disposed within the hinge assembly to be interposed between the same and the adjacent casing face and with the body portion of the support extending below that tab in contact with the casing, springs 30 may be introduced through a pair of the spaced louvres 15 to have their angularly offset end portions 31 override ledge portions 33. In this manner, a detent structure is furnished requiring a deliberate manipulation of the parts to separate the lower end of the unit from the casing by which it is supported. The spacing of the operative portions of the hooks 30 and tab 29 is such that the latter will remain fixed with respect to the adjacent casing face and the hinge plate, with the hooks engaging the surfaces defining the louvres. This positioning of the parts will maintain until the lower end of the support is flexed or pulled outwardly to deliberately detach it.

Supported in this manner, the weight of the unit is carried by the hooks 30 which, under the circumstances,- will be subjected to a certain amount of tension. The pocket 25 can conveniently support a floor brush. Prongs 23 may each mount different brushes, or supportingly engage the surface of a single brush. Such brushes can be, for example, a drapery brush and an upholstery nozzle unit. Pedestal 24 conveniently extends into the outlet bore of a dusting brush. Pedestal 26 may, for example, support a crevice tool or nozzle. The wire 16 extends from the point at which it enters the casing and with the apparatus out of service to the upper zone of that apparatus. At that point, it is conveniently coiled around the outer face of casing 11 and rests upon wings or shelves 19. It intimately contacts the outer faces of the end portions 18 and may extend into the grooves or notches 20. Accordingly it is supported against downward displacement through two spaced zones, one to each side of the hinge assembly 13. At a point diametrically opposite that assembly, it is supported against downward displacement over the casing by, for example, bearing against the hose coupling or fitting 12 adjacent the upper zone of the latter. Therefore, with the unit in place, no difliculty will be experienced in properly storing and supporting the wire lead. Of course with the support not in position, this lead may be coiled and disposed as desired by the operator.

In certain instances, itmay be desired to associate with the support a reel structure to receive the cord or wire supplying current to the motor-blower unit. Such an arrangement has been shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 in which the numeral 51 generally indicates the exterior face of the support which may be provided with the usual abutments, pedestals, pockets, etc. as heretofore described in connection with Fig. 5. These serve to receive or mount tools or accessories forming a part of the cleaner assembly. The upper wall, as well as the side walls of the support, may be relatively wide as indicated at 52. It has an inner wall 34 which conforms to and bears against the outer face of the casing 11. In common with the structure as heretofore described, a tab or equivalent element 35 extends into the space between the hinge plate and the casing. Also, this inner wall mounts hooks 36 corresponding to the hooks 30 and cooperative with the ledge portions 33 of spaced exhaust louvres 15. In this manner the unit is supported against accidental detachment from casing 11 in the same manner as the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to inclusive.

On the rear face of the outer support wall 51, a shaft 37 is mounted to extend inwardly. This shaft rotatably supports a reel 38. A lead cord 39 is coiled around the reel and passes outwardly through guides 40 mounted by the unit. At its outer end, it mounts a plug 41 to be connected to a conventional outlet (not shown). The inner end of the current-supplying cord terminates in leads 42 connected one to each of rings 43 mounted upon a plate 44 formed of insulating material. This plate is connected to move with reel 38. Pins 45 are mounted upon the outer face of casing 11 and are spaced a distance equal to the spacing of rings 43. These contact pins are spring pressed as at 46 and leads 47 are connected one to each of the same, and to the motor of the assembly as well as the switch controlling the operation of that motor.

A spring 48 has one of its ends secured to shaft 37. Its opposite end is connected to reel 38. A pawl or detent member 49 is pivotally supported within the space defined by the unit and bears against reel 38. A springpressed actuator 50 controls the movement of this pawl. The latter is arranged so that when reel 38 is rotated in a direction under which spring 48is subjected to increasing tension, the adjacent surface of the reel Wipes against this detent which thus does not interfere with such movement. However, when the reel tends to move under the influence of spring 48, then element 49 brakes against the surface of the reel and prevents this movement. The detent may be deliberately released from engagement with the reel by operation of the actuator 4 50. Under such circumstances, spring 48 may freely rewind the reel.

As afore brought out, the support illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is mounted upon the cleaner casing so that its weight is supported by hooks 36 or their functional equivalents. Plug 41 may be associated with a suitable outlet. As the cleaner assembly is moved away from that outlet, the cord 39 will feed through guide 40 and in such feeding will turn the reel 38 to increasingly tension spring 48. The amount of cord fed out beyond the caddy will correspond to the amount of movement or shifting imparted to the cleaner assembly. Due to the detent or pawl 49, thereel will not automatically rewind. Under those circumstances, current will feed through leads 42, rings 43, contact pins 45 and so through leads 47. A shortening of the effective length of the cord may be obtained by simply shifting actuator 50. Under these circumstances, reel 38 will automatically turn incident to the drive imparted to it by spring 43. Therefore, cord39 will be retracted. Consequently with plug 41 disconnected from the outlet, the former will assume a position such as has been illustrated in Fig. 6. If no support is. employed with an apparatus of this type, then the conventional socket member of a cord may be connected to receive pins 45. Under these circumstances, current will feed in the usual and accepted manner to the control switch and motor-blower unit.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. An accessory support to be applied to the side face of a vertically-extending vacuum cleaner casing and which latter is provided with a hingedly mounted cover for its upper end, the plate of said hinge having a surface spaced from the casing face to provide an upwardlyextending cavity, said casing being formed with an exhaust louvre below said hinge, said support comprising a plate-shaped body having its inner face conforming to such casing, a series of upwardly-extending tool supports provided on the outer face of said body, a yielding support of reduced area extending from the inner face of said plate to enterwithout substantial obstruction thereof-the exhaust louvre of said casing and to detachably bear against the surfaces defining the same to prevent downward movement of said body with respect to said casing and mounting means extending from the upper edge of said plate-shaped body to enter the cavity and prevent outward movement of said plate with respect to said casing.

2. In a support as specified in claim 1, spaced shelf portions forming a part of said body adjacent the upper end of the same to provide a cable-supporting structure, and said mounting means being disposed between said shelf portions.

3. In a support as specified in claim 1, side members forming a part of said body, said yielding support embracing a pair of elements and the latter being each arranged in substantial alignment with one of said side members.

4. In combination, a vacuum cleaner embracing a vertically-extending casing, a cover for closing the upper end of said casing, a hinge assembly for connecting said cover with said casing and comprising a plate fixed at the upper zone of said casing and having its inner face spaced from the latter to provide between the same an upwardly-extending cavity, said casing being formed with inlet and outlet openings with the latter disposed substantially below the upper edge of the casing, a support including a body having an upper edge, a tab extending beyond such edge and within said cavity to maintain said body against outward movement with respect to said casing and means carried by said body and extending into the outlet opening of said casing to engage against surfaces adjacent thereto and prevent downward movement of said body relative to the casing and which movement would result in withdrawal of said tab from said cavity.

5. In combination, a vacuum cleaner embracing a vertically-extending casing, 21 plate fixed at the upper zone of said casing and having its inner face spaced from the latter to provide between the same an upwardlyextending cavity, said casing being formed with inlet and outlet openings with the latter disposed substantially belowthe upper edge of the casing, a support including a body having an upper edge, a tab extending beyond such edge and within said cavity to maintain said body against outward movement with respect to said casing, means carried by said body and extending into the outlet opening of said casing to engage against surfaces adjacent thereto and prevent downward movement of said body relative to the casing and which movement would result in withdrawal of said tab from said cavity and means whereby the surfaces defining the outlet opening of the casing are spaced from the inner face of said body with the latter in applied position to furnish a passage for the flow of air and such movement-preventing means comprising a resilient member bridging such passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,233,167 Helm-Hansen Feb. 25, 1941 2,248,585 Ross et a1. July 8, 1941 2,450,172 Stoner Sept. 28, 1948 2,534,122 Hamala Dec. 12, 1950 2,634,189 Hill Apr. 7, 1953 2,649,606 Fadner Aug. 25, 1953 2,652,902 Sheahan Sept. 22, 1953 2,740,981 Famolare Apr. 10, 1956 

